[0001] This invention relates generally to the field of antineoplastic compounds, and more
particularly to the design and synthesis of selected tetra-peptides bearing modified
phenethylamides, exhibiting tumor inhibitory effects.
[0002] Ancient marine invertebrate species of the
Phyla Brvozoa,
Molluska, and
Porifera have been well established in the oceans for over one billion years. Such organisms
have undergone trillions of biosynthetic reactions of their evolutionary chemistry
to reach their present level of cellular organization, regulation and defense.
[0003] For example, marine sponges have changed minimally in physical appearance for nearly
500 million years. This suggests a very effective chemical resistance to evolution
in response to changing environmental conditions over that period of time. Recognition
of the potential for utilizing this biologically potent marine animal for medicinal
purposes was recorded in Egypt about 2,700 BC and by 200 BC sea hare extracts were
being used in Greece for their curative affect. This consideration along with the
observation that marine animals, e.g. invertebrates and sharks, rarely develop cancer
led to the systematic investigation of marine animal and plant anticancer compounds.
[0004] By 1968 ample evidence had been obtained, based on the U.S. National Cancer Institute's
(NCI) key experimental cancer study systems, that certain marine organisms could provide
new and antineoplastic and/or cytotoxic agents and might also lead to compounds which
would be effective in the control and/or eradication of viral diseases.
[0005] Further, these marine organisms were believed to possess potentially useful drug
candidates of unprecedented structure which had eluded discovery by other methods
of medicinal chemistry. Fortunately, these expectations have been realized, e.g. the
discovery of the bryostatins, dolastatins and cephalostatins, many of which are now
in preclinical development or human clinical studies.
[0006] Those researchers presently involved in medicinal chemistry know well the time lag
between the isolation of a new compound and its introduction to the market. Often
this procedure takes several years and may take decades. As a result, industry, in
association with the U.S. Government, has developed a system of testing criteria which
serves two purposes. One is to eliminate those substances which are shown through
testing to be economically counterproductive. The second, more important purpose serves
to identify those compounds which demonstrate a high likelihood of success and therefore
warrant the further study and qualification, and attendant expense, necessary to meet
the stringent regulatory requirements which control the ultimate market place.
[0007] The current cost to develop the necessary data approaches ten million dollars per
compound. As such, economics dictate that such a huge investment will be made only
when there is a reasonable opportunity for it to be recovered. Absent such opportunity,
there will be no investment and the research involving the discovery of these potentially
life saving compounds will cease. Only two hundred years ago many diseases ravaged
mankind. Many of these now have been controlled or eradicated. During the advancement
of means to treat or eliminate these diseases, work with appropriate animals was of
critical importance.
[0008] Current research in the control of cancer in the United States is coordinated by
the National Cancer Institute (NCI). To determine whether a substance has anti-cancer
properties, the NCI has established a systematic protocol. This protocol, which involves
the testing of a substance against a standard cell line panel containing 60 human
tumor cell lines, has been verified and has been accepted in scientific circles. The
protocol, and the established statistical means for analyzing the results obtained
by the standardized testing are fully described in the literature. See: Boyd, Dr.
Michael R.,
Principles & Practice of Oncology, PPO Updates, Volume 3, Number 10, October 1989, for an in depth description of the
testing protocol; and Paull, K. D., "Display and Analysis of Patterns of Differential
Activity of Drugs Against Human Tumor Cell Lines; Development of Mean Graph and COMPARE
Algorithm",
Journal of the National Cancer Institute Reports, Vol. 81, No. 14, Page 1088, July 14, 1989 for a description of the methods of statistical
analysis. Both of these references are incorporated herein by this reference thereto.
[0009] Numerous substances have been discovered which demonstrate significant antineoplastic
or tumor inhibiting characteristics. As stated above, many of these compounds have
been extracted, albeit with great difficulty, from marine animals such as the sponge
and sea hare. Once isolation and testing of these compounds has been accomplished,
a practical question remains, namely how to produce commercially significant quantities
of the desired substance.
[0010] Quinine, which is available in practical quantities from the bark of the cinchona
plant, differs from the compounds which are extracts of marine creatures possessing
antineoplastic qualities. The collection and processing of these later compounds from
their natural sources ranges from grossly impractical to the utterly impossible. Ignoring
the ecological impact, the population of these creatures and the cost of collection
and extraction make the process unworkable. Artificial synthesis of the active compounds
is the only possible solution.
[0011] Therefore, the elucidation of the structure of these antineoplastic compounds is
essential. After the structure has been determined, then a means of synthesis must
be determined. This is often a long and arduous procedure due to the idiosyncratic
complexity of these naturally occurring, evolutionary modified compounds. In addition,
research is necessary to determine whether any portion of the naturally occurring
compound is irrelevant to the desired properties, so that focus can be on the simplest
structure having the perceived properties.
[0012] The Constitution of the United States (Art. 1, Sec. 8) authorized Congress to establish
the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to promote scientific progress.
In order to obtain patent rights, one must show the utility of the invention. Cancer
cell growth in humans often causes pain, suffering, and premature death. The impairment
of human cancerous tumor growth is utilitarian in that it relieves these conditions,
thereby allowing the human thus affected to have a longer, more productive life. Little
could be more utilitarian than this result.
[0013] The sole right obtained from the grant of a Letters Patent is to prevent others from
exploiting the subject matter of the patent. This results in the protection of the
inventor for a period adequate to allow the recoupment of investment. This in turn
provides incentive for further research.
[0014] The recognition of antineoplastic and tumor inhibiting activity as demonstrated by
accepted NCI criteria as "utility" can promote research efforts in the United States
and is unequivocally essential if those efforts are to obtain even a modest modicum
of success.
[0015] Various species of sponges and sea hares produce cyclic and linear peptides that
contain amino acids which have been shown to be effective in the treatment and/or
control of cancer in humans. For example, Dolastatin 10 (U.S. Pat. No, 4,816,444),
which has only recently been synthesized, has proven to be a potent antineoplastic
substance. This finding, in turn, has prompted research into other compounds related
to Dolastatin 10.
[0016] Accordingly a principle object of this invention is to provide a new agent useful
in the retardation or remission of one or more types of cancer.
[0017] A further object of the present invention is to provide methods and procedures for
designing and synthesizing selected tetrapeptides bearing modified phenethylamides
for the treatment of neoplastic diseases and the inhibition of tumor growth.
[0018] These and still further objects, as shall hereinafter appear, are readily fulfilled
by the present invention in a remarkably unexpected manner as will be readily discerned
from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment thereof.
[0019] The discovery of new types of potentially antineoplastic peptides presents one of
the most essential and promising approaches to a synthesis of new anticancer and immunosuppressant
drugs. The dolastatins, an unprecedented series of linear and cyclic antineoplastic
and/or cytostatic peptides isolated from Indian Ocean sea hare
Dolabella auricularia (See: Pettit et al.,
J. Am. Chem. Soc.,
1976, 98, 4677) have shown excellent antineoplastic activity. The very productive sea
hare
D. auricularia has produced many structurally distinct peptides. Presently Dolastatin 10, a linear
pentapeptide, represents the most important member as a potentially useful antineoplastic
activity profiles against various cancer screens presently known (See: Pettit et al.,
J. Am. Chem. Soc.,
1987, 109, 6883). Recently reported is the total synthesis and absolute configuration
of this structurally unique and biologically active peptide (See: Pettit et al.,
J. Am. Chem Soc.,
1989, 111, 5463). Subsequent to this report, this compound attracted considerable interest
in the research community (See e.g., Hamada et al.,
Tetrahedron Lett.,
1991, 32, 931, Hayashi et al.,
Peptide Chemistry,
1989, 291 and Tomioka et al.,
Tetrahedron Lett.,
1991, 32(21), 2395-2398).
[0020] A series of Dolastatin 10 chiral isomers has been documented (See: Pettit et al.,
J. Med. Chem.,
1990, 33, 3132). More recently these experiments were extended to synthesis of R-Doe-isodolastatin
10. We have now found that the R-dolaphenine (Doe) substitution does not result in
any significant difference in its human cancer cell line activity when compared with
Dolastatin 10. This fact suggested that the 2-thiazolyl unit could be replaced with
a simple amide. The amide molecular length was then examined, starting with benzylamine,
phenethylamine and 3-phenyl-1-propylamine. Also studied was a systematic series of
modifications at the dolaphenine position introducing a substituted nitrogen instead
of a phenyl ring.
[0021] Then, fixing the length of the side chain at n=2 shows the importance of substituting
the phenyl ring and the aliphatic side chain in the amide part. Next investigated
was the role of placing substituents on the phenyl ring using electron withdrawing
(4-nitro, 4-chloro, 4-fluoro, 4-bromo, 3-chloro, 2-chloro) and electron releasing
(3,4-dimethoxy) groups. The corresponding amine (
2a-g) was allowed to react with dolaproine (
1). Synthesis of amides
3a-g using diethyl phosphorocyanidate (DEPC) for condensation led to an excellent yield.
No racemization was observed during this reaction. Synthesis followed and the (3a-g)
amides are shown below:

[0022] The protecting groups of amides
3a-g were removed with trifluoroacetic acid to afford the trifluoroacetate salt
4a-g as shown below:
Trifluroacetate salt 4a-g
[0023]

[0024] Diethyl phosphorocyanidate (DEPC) was used again with excellent results for coupling
the tripeptide
5 with each of the trifluoroacetate salts
4a-g to yield dolastatin 10 structural modification
6a-g accord to the following reaction:
Synthesis of Peptides 6a-g
[0025]

[0026] Next investigated was the effect of substituting the aliphatic chain and the amide
nitrogen in the modified dolaphenine position using unsubstituted phenyl ring. Then
methyl and hydroxyl substituents were applied starting with (1R, 2R)-2-methylamino-1-phenylpropanol
(
2h), (1S, 2R)-norephedrine (
2i), D(+)-(1S, 2S)-norephedrine (
2j), and (1R, 2S)-norephedrine (
2k). Synthesis of modified tetrapeptide phenethylamides
6h-k was achieved by the methods developed for amides
6a-g according to the reactions shown below:

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the synthesis of the constituent
intermediate structures is performed by the following steps.
Synthesis of Amides 3a-k (shown above). General Procedure A
[0028] To a solution of [2S-[2R*(αS*,βS*)]]-1-[(1, 1-dimethyl-ethoxy) carbonyl]-B-methoxy-α
-methyl-2-pyrrolidine-propanoic acid (t-Boc-Dolaproine,
1, 0.144 g, 0.5 mmol) in dichloromethane (3 ml, distilled from CaH₂) was added the
respective amine (
2a-k 0.5 mmol) followed by triethylamine (0.077 ml, 0.55 mmol) and diethyl phosphoro-cyanidate
(DEPC, 0.09 ml, 93%, 0.55 mmol, ice bath) and the solution was stirred under argon
for two hours. The solvent was removed (under vacuum at room temper-ature) and the
residue was chromatographed (silica gel column using hexane-acetone 3:1 as eluent).After
the evaporation of solvent from the fractions (selected by TLC) 2 ml dry dichloromethane
was added and evaporation was repeated. The residue was dried in a desiccator under
vacuum overnight to afford the amide (
3a-k) as a viscous oil.
[2S-[2R*[1S*,2S*]]]-2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo-3-[[2-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-ethyl]amino]propyl]-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,1-dimethylethylester (3a)
[0029] Compound
3a was synthesized from t-Boc-Dolaproine (
1) and 3, 4-dimethoxyphenetylamine (
2a) according to General Procedure A.
Yield
3a: 0.189 g (84%)
[α]
D25=-33 (C=1.6, CHCl₃)
Anal. Calcd for C₂₄H₃₈N₂O
6, M. w. 450.566
[2S-[2R*[1S*, 2S*]]]-2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo-3-[[2-(4-nitro-phenyl)-ethyl]amino] propyl]-1-pyrrolidine-carboxylic acid, 1,1-dimethylethylester (3b)
[0030] Compound
3b was synthesized from t-Boc-Dolaproine (
1) and 4-nitrophenethylamine (
2b) according to General Procedure A.
Yield
3b: 0.176 g (81%)
[α]
D25=-54 (c=0.29 in CHCl₃)
Anal. Calcd for C₂₂H₃₃N₃O₆ M. w.: 435.505
[2S-[2R*[1S*, 2S*]]]-2-[1-methoxo-2-methyl-3-oxo-3-[[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl] amino] propyl]-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,1-dimethylethylester (3c)
[0031] Compound
3c was synthesized from t-Boc-Dolaproine (
1) and 2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamine (
2c) according to General Procedure A.
Yield
3c: 0.183 g (85.5%)
[α]
D25= -38 (c=1.52 in CHCl₃)
Anal. Calcd for C₂₂H₃₃N₂O₄Cl M. w.: 424.953
[2S-[2R*[1S*, 2S*]]]-2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo-3-[[2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]amino] propyl]-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,1-dimethylethylester (3d)
[0032] Compound
3d was synthesized from t-Boc-Dolaproine (
1) and 2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-ethylamine (
2d) according to General Procedure A.
Yield
3d: 0.192 g (94.3%)
[α]
D25= -37.70 (c=1.61 in CHCl₃)
M. w.: 408.5 C₂₂H₃₃N₂O₄F
[2S-[2R*[1S*, 2S*]]]-2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo-3-[[2-(4-bromo-phenyl)-ethyl]amino]propyl]-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,1-dimethylethylester (3e)
[0033] Compound
3e was synthesized from t-Boc-Dolaproine (
1) and 2-(4-bromo-phenyl)-ethylamine (
2e) according to General Procedure A.
Yield
3e: 0.193 g (82.1%)
[α]
D25= -29.67 (c=1.52 in CHCl₃)
M. w.: 469.49 C₂₂H₃₃N₂O₄Br
[2S-[2R*[1S*, 2S*]]]-2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo -3-[[2-(3-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]amino]propyl] -1-pyrrolidine-carboxylic acid, 1,1-dimethylethylester (3f)
[0034] Compound
3f was synthesized from t-Boc-Dolaproine (
1) and 2-(3-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamine (
2f) according to General Procedure A.
Yield
3f: 0.202 g (95.3%)
[α]
D25= -30.95 (C=1.15 in CHCl₃)
M. w.: 424.953 C₂₂H₃₃N₂O₄Cl
[2S-[2R*[1S*, 2S*]]]-2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl -3-oxo-3-[[2- (2-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]amino] propyl]-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,1-dimethylethylester (3g)
[0035] Compound 3g was synthesized from t-Boc-Dolaproine (
1) and 2-(2-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamine (
2g) according to General Procedure A.
Yield
3g: 0.194 g (91.7%)
[α]
D25= -39.36 (C=1.71 in CHCl₃)
M. w.: 424.953 C₂₂H₃₃N₂O₄Cl
[2S-[2R*[1S*, 2S*, 3(1S*, 2S*)]]]-2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo- 3-[[1-phenyl-1-hydroxy-2
-propyl] methylamino]propyl]-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,1-dimethylethylester (3h)
[0036] Compound
3h was synthesized from t-Boc-Dolaproine (
1) and (1R, 2R)-(-)-2-methylamino-1-phenyl-propan-1-ol (
2h) according to General Procedure A.
Yield
3h: 0.14 g (64%)
[α]
D25=-184.7 (c=0.17 in CHCl₃)
Anal. Calcd for C₂₄H₃₈N₂O₅ M. w. 434.56
[2S-[2R*[1S*, 2S*, 3(1R*, 2S*)]]]-2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo- 3-[[1-phenyl-1-hydroxy-2 -propyl] amino]propyl]-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,1-dimethylethylester (3i)
[0038] Compound
3i was synthesized from t-Boc-Dolaproine (
1) and (1S, 2R)-norephedrine (
2i) according to General Procedure A. In this case at the end drying colorless crystals
were obtained.
Yield
3i: 0.145 g (69%)
M. p.: 55-57 °C
[α]
D25= +8.8 (c=0.42 in CHCl₃)
Anal. Calcd for C₂₃H₃₆N₂O₅ M. w. 420.54
[2S-[2R*[1S*, 2S*, 3(1R*, 2R*)]]]-2-[1-methoxy -2-methyl-3-oxo- 3-[[1-phenyl-1-hydroxy-2 -propyl]amino]propyl]- 1-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,1-dimethylethylester (3j)
[0039] Compound
3j was synthesized from t-Boc-Dolaproine (
1) and D(+)-(1S, 2S)-norephedrine (
2j) according to General Procedure A. In this case at the end drying colorless crystals
were obtained.
Yield
3j: 0.204 g (97.6%)
M. p. : 65-67 °C
[α]
D25= +7.0 (c=0.43 in CHCl₃)
M. w.: 420.54 C₂₃H₃₆N₂O₅
[2S-[2R*[1S*, 2S*, 3(1S*, 2R*)]]]-2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo- 3-[[1-phenyl-1-hydroxy-2 -propyl] amino]propyl]-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,1-dimethylethylester (3k)
[0040] Compound
3k was synthesized from t-Boc-Dolaproine (
1) and (1R, 2S)-norephedrine (
2k) according to General Procedure A. In this case at the end drying colorless crystals
were obtained.
Yield
3k: 0.201 g (96.0%)
M. p. : 53-55 °C
[α]
D25= -38.9 (c=0.36 in CHCl₃)
M. w.: 420.54 C₂₃H₃₆N₂O₅
Synthesis of Peptides 6a-k (shown above). General Procedure B.
[0041] A solution of the amide
3a-k (0.2 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 ml) and trifluoroacetic acid (2 ml) was stirred
(ice bath under an argon atmosphere) for two hours. The solvent was removed under
reduced pressure and the residue dissolved in toluene. Solvent was again removed in
vacuum and this operation was repeated. The residue was dried in a desiccator (under
vacuum overnight) to afford the trifluoroacetate salt
4a-k as a viscous oil.
[0042] To a solution of the trifluoroacetate salt
4a-k (0.2 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 ml, distilled from CaH₂) was added the tripeptide
(synthesis previously reported) trifluoroacetate salt (
5, 0.109 g, 0.2 mmol) followed by triethylamine (0.088 ml, 0.63 mmol) and diethyl phosphorocyanidate
(DEPC, 0.036 ml, 93%, 0.22 mmol, ice bath). The solution was stirred under argon for
two hours. The solvent was removed (under vacuum at room temperature) and the residue
was chromatographed (silica gel column using acetonehexane 3:2 as eluent). After the
evaporation of solvent from the fractions (selected by TLC behavior) 2 ml of dry dichloromethane
was added evaporated. The residue was dried in a desiccator under vacuum overnight
to yield a white fluffy solid.
[2S-[1[1R*(R*),2S*],2R*[1S*,2S*]]]-N,N-dimethyl-L-valyl-N-[2 -methoxy-4-[2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo-3-[[2-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-ethyl]amino] propyl]-1-pyrrolidinyl-1-(methylpropyl) -4-oxo butyl]-N-methyl-L-valineamide (6a)
[0043] Compound
6a was synthesized from trifluoroacetate salt
4a (from amide
3a) and tripeptide trifluoroacetate salt
5 by General Procedure B.
Yield
6a : 128 mg (84%)
M. p.: 145-147 °C
[α]
D25=-32 (c=0.2 in CHCl₃)
Anal. Calc. : C₄₁H₇₁N₅O₈ Mw.: 762.018
[2S-[1[1R*(R*),2S*],2R*[1S*,2S*]]]-N,N-dimethyl-L-valyl-N-[2-methoxy-4-[2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo-3-[[2-(4-nitro-phenyl)-ethyl]amino]propyl] -1-pyrrolidinyl-1-(methylpropyl)-4-oxobutyl]-N-methyl-L-valineamide (6b)
[0044] Compound
6b was synthesized from trifluoroacetate salt
4e (from amide
3b) and tripeptide trifluoroacetate salt
5 by General Procedure B.
Yield
6b : 129 mg (87%)
M. p.: 73-76 °C
[α]
D25=-45 (c=0.08 in CHCl₃)
Anal. Calc. : C₃₉H₆₆N₆O₈ Mw.: 746.965
[2S-[1[1R*(R*),2S*],2R*[1S*,2S*]]]-N,N-dimethyl-L-valyl-N-[2-methoxy-4-[2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo-3-[[2-(4-chlor-phenyl)-ethyl]amino]propyl]- 1-pyrrolidinyl-1-(methylpropyl)-4-oxobutyl]-N-methyl-L-valineamide (6c)
[0045] Compound
6c was synthesized from trifluoroacetate salt
4c (from amide
3c) and tripeptide trifluoroacetate salt
5 by General Procedure B.
Yield
6c : 125 mg (85%)
M. p.: 75-78 °C
[α]
D₂₅: -47.9 (c=0.19 in CDCl₃)
Anal. Calc. : C₃₉H₆₆N₅O₆Cl Mw.: 736.411
[2S-[1[1R*(R*),2S*],2R*[1S*,2S*]]]-N,N-dimethyl-L-valyl-N-[2-methoxy-4-[2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo-3-[[2-(4-chlor-phenyl)-ethyl]amino]propyl]-1-pyrrolidinyl- 1-(methylpropyl)-4-oxo butyl]-N-methyl-L-valineamide (6d)
[0046] Compound
6d was synthesized from trifluoroacetate salt
4d (from amide
3d) and tripeptide trifluoroacetate salt
5 by General Procedure B.
Yield
6d : 0.105 g (72.8%)
M. p.: 76-78 °C
[α]
D25=-44.81 (c=0.27 in CHCl₃)
Anal. Calc. : C₃₉H₆₆N₅O₆F Mw.: 719.958
[2S-[1[1R*(R*),2S*],2R*[1S*,2S*]]]-N,N-dimethyl-L-valyl-N-[2-methoxy-4-[2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl -3-oxo-3-[[2-(4-bromo-phenyl)-ethyl]amino]propyl]-1-pyrrolidinyl-1-(methylpropyl)-4-oxo butyl]-N-methyl-L-valineamide (6e)
[0047] Compound
6e was synthesized from trifluoroacetate salt
4e (from amide
3e) and tripeptide trifluoroacetate salt
5 by General Procedure B.
Yield
6e : 0.113 g (72.7%)
M. p.: 107-109 °C
[α]
D₂₅: -41.76 (c=0.17 in CDCl₃)
Anal. Calc. : C₃₉H₆₆N₅O₆Br Mw.: 780.867
[2S-[1[1R*(R*),2S*],2R*(1S*,2S*]]]-N,N-dimethyl-L-valyl-N-[2-methoxy-4-[2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo-3-[[2-(3-chlor-phenyl)-ethyl]amino]propyl]- 1-pyrrolidinyl-1-(methylpropyl)-4-oxo butyl]-N-methyl -L-valineamide (6f)
[0048] Compound
6f was synthesized from trifluoroacetate salt
4f (from amide
3f) and tripeptide trifluoroacetate salt
5 by General Procedure B.
Yield
6f : 0.103 g (69.7%)
M. p.: 79-81 °C
[α]
D₂₅: -41.79 (c=0.28 in CDCl3)
Anal. Calc. : C₃₀H₆₆N₅O₆Cl Mw.: 736.411
[2S-[1[1R*(R*) ,2S*],2R*[1S*,2S*)]]-N,N-dimethyl-L-valyl-N-[2-methoxy-4-[2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo -3-[[2-(2-chlor-phenyl)-ethyl]amino]propyl]-1-pyrrolidinyl-1-(methylpropyl)-4-oxo butyl]-N-methyl -L-valineamide (6g)
[0050] Compound
6g was synthesized from trifluoroacetate salt
4g (from amide
3g) and tripeptide trifluoroacetate salt
5 by General Procedure B.
Yield
6g : 0.105 g (71.3%)
M. p.: 75-77 °C
[α]
D₂₅: -44.17 (c=0.36 in CDCl3)
Anal. Calc. : C₃₉H₆₆N₅O₆Cl Mw.: 736.411
[2S-[1[1R*(R*) ,2S*],2R*[1S*,2S*,3(1S*, 2S*)]]]-N,N-dimethyl-L-valyl-N-[2-methoxy-4-[2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo-3-[[1-phenyl-1-hydroxy-2-propyl]methylamino]propyl]-1-pyrrolidinyl-1-(methylpropyl)-4- oxobutyl]-N-methyl-L-valineamide (6h)
[0051] Compound
6h was synthesized from trifluoroacetate salt
4g (from amide
3h) and tripeptide trifluoroacetate salt
5 by General Procedure B.
Yield
6h : 92 mg (62%)
M. p.: 108-110 °C
[α]
D25=-70 (c=0.13 in CHCl₃)
Anal. Calc. : C₄₁H₇₁N₅O₇ Mw.: 746.018
[2S-[1[1R*(R*),2S*],2R*[1S*,2S*, 3(1R*, 2S*)]]]-N,N-dimethyl-L-valyl-N-[2-methoxy-4-[2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo- 3-[[1-phenyl-1-hydroxy-2-propyl]amino]propyl]-1-pyrrolidinyl-1-(methylpropyl)-4-oxobutyl]-N-methyl-L-valineamide (6i)
[0052] Compound
6i was synthesized from trifluoroacetate salt
4i (from amide
3i) and tripeptide trifluoroacetate salt
5 by General Procedure B.
Yield
6i: 0.101 g (69%)
M. p.: 92-94 °C
[α]
D₂₅: -20 (c=0.12 in CDCl3)
Anal. Calc. : C₄₀H₆₉N₅O₇ Mw.: 731. 992
[2S-[1[1R*(R*),2S*],2R*[1S*,2S*, 3(1R*,2R*)]]]-N, N-dimethyl-L-valyl-N-[2-methoxy-4-[2-(1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo- 3-[[1-phenyl-1-hydroxy-2-propyl]amino]propyl]-1-pyrrolidinyl-1-(methylpropyl)-4-oxobutyl]-N-methyl-L-valineamide (6j)
[0053] Compound
6j was synthesized from trifluoroacetate salt
4j (from amide
3j) and tripeptide trifluoroacetate salt
5 by General Procedure B.
Yield
6j: 0.110 g (75.4%)
M. p.: 108-110 °C
[α]
D25=-24.05 (c=0.37 in CHCl₃)
Anal. Calc. : C₄₀H₆₉N₅O₇ Mw.: 731.992
[2S-[1[1R*(R*),2S*],2R*[1S*,2S*, 3(1S*, 2R*)]]]-N,N-dimethyl-L-valyl-N-[2-methoxy-4-[2-[1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxo-3-[[1-phenyl-1-hydroxy-2-propyl]amino]propyl]- 1-pyrrolidinyl-1-(methylpropyl)-4-oxobutyl]-N-methyl-L-valine amide (6k)
[0054] Compound
6k was synthesized from trifluoroacetate salt
4k (from amide
3k) and tripeptide trifluoroacetate salt
5 by General Procedure B.
Yield
6k: 0.098 g (67%)
M. p.: 100-102 °C
[α]
D₂₅: -39.26 (c=0.27 in CDCl3)
Anal. Calc. : C₄₀H₆₉N₅O₇ Mw.: 731.992
[0055] The extraordinary inhibition of cell growth shown by the tetrapeptide
6a-k against six major types of human cancer and against the murine P388 lymphocytic leukemia
cell line has been presented in Table 1-2, below.

[0056] From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that a useful embodiment of the present
invention has been herein described and illustrated which fulfills all of the aforestated
objectives in a remarkably unexpected fashion. It is of course understood that such
modification, alterations and adaptations as may readily occur to the artisan confronted
with this disclosure are intended within the spirit of this disclosure which is limited
only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.